BAINBRIDGE ISLAND – Racers weren’t the only ones breaking records at this year’s Bainbridge Youth Services Fourth of July Fun Run. More than 900 runners, walkers and kid dashers participated in the 35th annual event.

The event featured a 1-mile run/walk; a 5k run/walk and a Kids Dash on the Winslow Green near the gazebo at Madison and Winslow Way. More than 670 people turned out for the 5K race, while 196 participated in the 1-mile and more than 40 in the Kids Dash.

Several runners even signed up for the 5K after finishing the 1-Mile. Veteran runners Jim Savage, 39, and Janet McDevitt, 40, won the overall 5K race, while Adam Boardman, 35, and Hannah Gray, 9, won the overall 1-Mile.

McDevitt, who also took first place in last year’s Fun Run, improved her time by 16 seconds this year. Organizers said this was the largest turnout in the race’s history and 22 percent higher than last year.

“The Fourth of July Fun Run is developing into one of the premier running events of the West Sound,” said finish line coordinator Greg Chapman, who has been working with races throughout Washington for more than 30 years.

“With 671 finishers, the 5K race is the largest timed run in this county ever documented. This event has now become the largest of its kind in Kitsap County during the summer months, overtaking the Whale of a Run and Viking Fest for participants,” he said.

Nearly 100 volunteers put in countless hours on the Fun Run with the cooperation of the Bainbridge Island City Council, the chamber of commerce, Bainbridge police and fire departments, the parks district and dozens of local businesses.

Organizers said the real winners of the event, however, are Bainbridge Island youth. All proceeds (total not yet available) benefit Bainbridge Youth Services, which provides free counseling, job training, scholarships and more for youth ages 12 to 19.

“We want to thank the community and our sponsors for their ongoing support,” said Marina Cofer-Wildsmith, executive director of Bainbridge Youth Services. “None of this would be possible without their generosity.”

Entire families, teams and people young and old came out to run and walk the event — some pushing babies in strollers and others walking their dogs. Several teams donned colorful costumes, including the “Firecrackers.”

The Bainbridge High School Cheerleaders got the Kids Dash off to a rousing start and the crew from sponsor Kitsap Physical Therapy handed out orange slices to participants.

Island Fitness Owner and Fun Run sponsor Michael Rosenthal was the master of ceremonies for the event, which also included a warm up by Shea Patrick, an instructor at Bainbridge Athletic Club, another of the many Fun Run sponsors.

The entire list of Fun Run participants and their times will be posted soon at the BYS Fun Run website at www.bifunrun.com.

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